puff

To decompress data that has been crunched by
Huffman coding. At least one widely distributed Huffman decoder
program was actually named `PUFF', but these days it is
usually packaged with the encoder. Oppose huff, see
inflate.

A sudden and single emission of breath from the mouth; hence, any sudden or short blast of wind; a slight gust; a whiff.

" To every puff of wind a slave."

Flatman.

2.

Anything light and filled with air. Specifically: (a) A puffball. (b) kind of light pastry. (c) A utensil of the toilet for dusting the skin or hair with powder.

3.

An exaggerated or empty expression of praise, especially one in a public journal.

Puff adder. Zool. (a) Any South African viper belonging to Clotho and allied genera. They are exceedingly venomous, and have the power of greatly distending their bodies when irritated. The common puff adder (Vipera, ∨ Clotho, arietans) is the largest species, becoming over four feet long. The plumed puff adder (C. cornuta) has a plumelike appendage over each eye. (b) A North American harmless snake (Heterodon platyrrhinos) which has the power of puffing up its body. Called also hog-nose snake, flathead, spreading adder, and blowing adder. Puff birdZool., any bird of the genus Bucco, or family Bucconidae. They are small birds, usually with dull-colored and loose plumage, and have twelve tail feathers. See Barbet (b).